Any external device that provides input and output for the computer is called as computer peripheral. Computer peripherals are classified as input peripherals, output peripherals, I/O devices. Examples of input peripherals include keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, pen tablet, joystick, MIDI keyboard, scanner, digital camera, video camera and microphone, output peripherals include as monitor, printer, projector, TV screen, plotter and speakers, I/O devices that functions both as input and output device includes external hard drives, media card readers, digital camcorders, digital mixers and MIDI equipment.

In this industry, companies manufacture a range of products which includes printers, input devices, plotters, graphic displays or monitors and optical scanners.

Among all the computer peripherals, the three largest categories include graphic displays, printers and scanners. There are also other products of computer peripherals which include computer input devices such as keyboards and mice, computer sound systems, magnetic-ink recognition devices, graphic and technical plotters, graphics production equipment, and various multimedia devices.

Types of popular graphical displays are traditional cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors and flat-panel liquid crystal displays (LCDs). In printers there are three major printer types, they are dot matrix printer, ink-jet printers, and laser printers. Most commonly used peripheral scanners that are used to translate images and texts into electronic signals are flatbed or desktop scanners. 

In computer peripherals industry there are two main markets that are present namely original equipment manufacturers i.e. OEM and aftermarket upgrades. In OEM, a computer peripherals manufacturer provides the device on contract to a large computer maker such as Compaq or Dell. In aftermarket upgrades, a computer peripherals manufacturer provides the device through different channels which includes wholesalers and distributors, retailers, or direct sales. 

Computer Peripherals Industry Current Trends

As per the reports, the global computer hardware manufacturing market might grow at a compound annual growth rate i.e. CAGR of 5.5% over the period from 2011 to 2015. One of the major factors that contribute to this market growth is because of continuous demand for technology upgradation. 

Major Computer Peripherals Industry Players

Some of the major computer peripherals industry players are HP, Seiko Epson, Canon, Lexmark, NEC Corp., and Xerox in printers segment, NEC, Sony, Fujitsu, Samsung, IBM, Acer, Mitsubishi, and Viewsonic are some of the leading display manufacturers, Key Tronic, NMB Technologies, and Mitsumi Electronics are some of the keyboard and input device manufacturers.